We are nearing the end of 2023, and it has been a pretty exceptional year for books, all things considered. While the year is wrapping up and we are heading into the Christmas break, I am still receiving a few good books here and there, which I thought I would quickly highlight in my final Book Haul post of 2023. This final list includes a couple of late 2023 releases, some books I picked up myself, as well as several great novels from early 2024 that I received from both publishers and Netgalley. This worked out to be a pretty eclectic collection of books, but they should make for excellent reads, and I am looking forward to all of them.
Deadly Game by Michael Caine
The first book that I want to highlight in this Book Haul post is the fun thriller, Deadly Game. Set around the theft of nuclear material in London, Deadly Game is a fantastic novel that I was very happy to receive, mainly because it was written by legendary actor Michael Caine. I have actually already read Deadly Game (literally finished it an hour ago), and it was a pretty good debut, with a captivating narrative and distinctive writing style. I am hoping to get a review up for Deadly Game soon, and it ended up being a great read.
Argylle by Elly Conway
The next book I recently received is potentially the most intriguing and mysterious, with the spy thriller Argylle. A compelling book set around a maverick spy attempting to stop a series of devastating events, Argylle sounds pretty fun. However, it’s the behind-the-scenes elements of Argylle that may prove to be the most fascinating, especially as there is a major movie adaptation for this book coming out in a few months, as well as some serious questions about who the author of this novel is (there are some very interesting theories online). I am hoping to read Argylle in the next week or two and I am very, very curious to see how the book ties into the upcoming movie, as well as who actually wrote this debut novel.
Saevus Corax Captures the Castle by K. J. Parker
After having an amazing time reading the Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead, I went out and grabbed the next two Saevus Corax books, including Saevus Corax Captures the Castle. A cool trilogy from one of my favourite fantasy authors, K. J. Parker, all three Saevus Corax books were released within a month of each other, which was a very interesting choice. Following professional battlefield looter, Saevus Corax, as he gets dragged into all manner of over-the-top trouble, the first book in this series was very fun and it was easily one of my favourite books of 2023. I am hoping to get into the sequels soon, and I have no doubt that both of them will be extremely fun, highly detailed, and featuring some unique stories. The second book in the trilogy, Saevus Corax Captures the Castle sounds extremely awesome, as the tricky Saevus Corax finds himself in the awkward position of having to besiege a castle to survive.
Saevus Corax Gets Away With Murder by K. J. Parker
The other Saevus Corax book I got was Saevus Corax Gets Away With Murder. The final entry in the trilogy, this novel will see the titular character try to finally retire, while also trying to get away with murder. No doubt another funny and clever read, I am looking forward to this novel and it should be extremely awesome.
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of the new Robert Jackson Bennett novel, The Tainted Cup. One of the most anticipated fantasy novels of 2024, The Tainted Cup will see two unique investigators attempt to solve an impossible magical death in one of the author’s elaborate fantasy worlds. The Tainted Cup has the potential to be one of the top books of 2024 and I cannot wait to dive into it.
A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly
A fantastic and intriguing thriller that sees a FBI agent attempt to stop a deadly serial killer leaving a swathe of bodies alongside America’s roads. A Clean Kill sounds like an amazing piece of crime fiction and I am very keen to check it out.
Behind a Closed Door by J. D. Barker
The final book I recently received was the fantastic horror thriller, Behind A Closed Door by J. D. Barker. Set around a malicious app that forces its participants to complete in deadly games, Behind A Closed Door sounds like an intense and compelling novel and I am excited to dive into the author’s twisted tale. Barker is a great author, and I have previously enjoyed some of his collaborative work, including Death of the Black Widow and Dracul. I look forward to reading this solo novel from him, especially as it sounds very awesome and dark.
Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post. As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in. Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.
The Unseen Library 